O Orange II took off and formed up with the bomber stream heading for Germany. Our trip was uneventful until after the first turning point when a ME110 in vertical climbed missed and was lost by violent corkscrewing. On the runup to the target another ME110 had a go at us getting some hits in the waist of our A/C and shooting out the starboard wing flap and hitting the port wing route. Visibility of the target was excellent and we managed to get 50% of our load on the TIs.
Approaching the Dutch coast on the return trip our tailgunner spotted an ME100 moving in for an attack and opened fire. Hit were seen in the nose and left engine of the enemy A/C and it dove away trailing sparks. Just as were crossed the coast another ME110 attacked and scored hit on the Mid-upper position putting the turret out of action and wounding mid-upper gunner Fayle. The attack also hit again in the port wing and shot out the port wing flap and caused more damage to the starboard wing. With both sets of wings flaps out Pilot Wilson manged to land at fairly high speed and was able to bring us to a atop shortly after we crossed the perimeter track and before the drainage ditch. Fayle recovered from his wounds and A/C and crew will be ready for the next mission. For his skill in landing the damaged A/C Sgt Wilson was awarded a DFM.